Talon International, Inc. Reports 2014 Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Financial Results


LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 16, 2015) - Talon International, Inc. ("Talon") (OTCQB: TALN), a leading global supplier of zippers, apparel fasteners, trim and stretch technology products, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2014.

Highlights

  • Total Sales in 2014 fell 6.0% from 2013 on lower Zipper sales
  • Talon Trim and Talon's stretch technology - Tekfit product sales posted gains to partially offset Zipper decline

Financial Highlights
Total sales for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $49.3 million, reflecting a 6.0% year-over-year decrease compared to 2013, principally the result of a decline in Talon Zipper sales. Zipper sales were $24.7 million in 2014, as compared to $28.8 million for the same period in 2013; a decrease of 14.1% as retailers pulled-back orders and worked off inventory following a slow beginning in 2014, and foreign competition for the mass merchandiser and teen retailer business increased in Asia. Partially offsetting the Zipper sales decline, Talon Trim sales of $24.5 million in 2014 reflected a 3.7% increase from 2013, in addition sales for 2014 included $133,000 of Tekfit's patented stretchable products, increasing 67.3% over 2013 (albeit off a small base). Specialty apparel customers continued to be the Company's strategic focus, and new brands added $1.9 million in 2014. Total sales for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014 were $10.3 million, reflecting a 14.0% decrease from the same period in 2013. Total sales for the quarter included $4.3 million in Zipper sales, down $1.3 million, and $5.9 million in Trim sales which were $381,000 lower than the same period in 2013.

"While we expected stronger revenue and earnings growth as we entered 2014, the economic environment and soft retail demand in the first quarter slowed orders for the remainder of the year, predominantly with our price sensitive mass merchandising and teen retail customers," stated Lonnie Schnell, Talon's Chief Executive Officer. "Though these factors were substantially outside our control, we nevertheless continued to strengthen our positions with core customers, adding new relationships with our specialty retail partners and leveraging our premium and innovative new products." 

Talon Zipper product sales to mass merchandising brand customers and teen apparel retailers declined $3.4 million from 2013. The lower Talon Zipper sales in 2014 compared to 2013 was principally the result of a sharp decline in consumer retail apparel sales in the first half of 2014, due in part to severe weather and low consumer demand, which led to excess retail inventories and a prompt reduction in retailers demand at the wholesale level. 

"Talon is positioned to benefit as retail inventories are rebalanced in 2015. Our focus on specialty/premium retailers that value our products to support their high-image brands, will further reduce our exposure to the mass merchandising and teen retailer," noted Mr. Schnell. "This focus, together with the potential growth from our TekFit stretch technology, give us great optimism for 2015 and beyond," Schnell continued.

Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $16.0 million or 32.5% of sales, as compared to $17.0 million or 32.4% for the year ended December 31, 2013; a decrease of just under $1.0 million. Gross profit for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 was $3.1 million compared to $3.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. The gross profit decrease for the year as compared to the same period in 2013 was principally attributable to lower sales volume.

Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $14.3 million; essentially flat from 2013. Operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $3.3 million, which was $292,000 less than the operating expenses during the fourth quarter of 2013. Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $6.3 million, approximately $441,000 greater than sales and marketing expenses in 2013 mainly due to higher compensation, investment in new product development and increased marketing costs. Sales and marketing expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 were $1.6 million, essentially flat as compared with the fourth quarter in 2013. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 totaled $7.9 million, lower than 2013 by $389,000. In 2013 general and administrative expenses included a one-time receipt of $350,000 from the settlement of a legal dispute regarding intellectual property rights. Despite this prior year credit, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were still lower than 2013, principally due to reduced compensation costs, lower depreciation expense and other cost reductions. General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 totaled $1.8 million, decreasing approximately $343,000 from the general and administrative expense for the same period in 2013.

Income before income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $1.3 million compared to $2.7 million for the same period in 2013. For the quarter ended December 31, 2014 operations reflected a loss before income taxes of $293,000 as compared to income before income taxes of $6,000 for the same quarter in 2013.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $572,000 or $0.01 per share as compared to net income of $9.7 million or $0.17 per share (on 35.9 million fewer shares outstanding) for the year ended December 31, 2013. The net income for fiscal year 2013 includes a one-time benefit from the adjustment of deferred income taxes of $7.5 million.

Total shareholders' equity increased to $5.1 million at December 31, 2014 as compared to $4.4 million at December 31, 2013. 

Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's views on market growth, changing trends in apparel retailing, new product introductions, and the Company's ability to execute on its sales strategies, and are generally identified by phrases such as "thinks," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," and similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statement. These statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including management's own knowledge and assessment of the Company's industry, competition and capital requirements. These and other risks are more fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which should be read in conjunction herewith for a further discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Conference Call
Talon International will hold a conference call today to discuss its 2014 fourth quarter and full year financial results. Talon's CEO, Lonnie D. Schnell, will host the call starting at 4:30 P.M. Eastern Time. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

To participate, dial the appropriate number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time, request the Talon International conference call and provide the conference ID.

Date: Monday, March 16, 2015
Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time)
Domestic callers: 1-888-349-0091
International callers: 1-412-902-4297
Conference ID#: TALON

A replay of the call will be available after 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day and until April 16, 2015. The toll-free replay call-in number is 1-877-870-5176 for domestic callers and 1-858-384-5517 for international. Pin number 10061400.

About Talon International, Inc.
Talon International, Inc. is a major supplier of custom zippers, complete trim solutions and stretch technology products to manufacturers of fashion apparel, specialty retailers, mass merchandisers, brand licensees and major retailers worldwide. Talon develops, manufactures and distributes custom zippers exclusively under its Talon® brand ("The World's Original Zipper Since 1893"); designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes complete apparel trim solutions and products; and provides stretch technology for specialty waistbands, shirt collars, and other items all under its trademark and world renowned brands, Talon®, and TekFit®, to major apparel brands and retailers. Leading retailers worldwide recognize and use Talon products including VF Corporation, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch, Polo Ralph Lauren, Kohl's, JC Penney, FatFace, Victoria's Secret, Wal-Mart, Phillips-Van Heusen, Levi Strauss & Co., Express and many others. The company is headquartered in the greater Los Angeles area, and has offices and facilities throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

   
TALON INTERNATIONAL, INC.  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)  
   
    Quarters Ended December 31,     Years Ended December 31,  
    (Unaudited)     (Audited)  
    2014     2013     2014   2013  
Net sales   $ 10,270,427     $ 11,938,636     $ 49,322,684   $ 52,447,387  
Cost of goods sold     7,121,664       8,278,085       33,314,773     35,474,536  
  Gross profit     3,148,763       3,660,551       16,007,911     16,972,851  
Sales and marketing expenses     1,575,663       1,524,345       6,330,386     5,889,087  
General and administrative expenses     1,772,276       2,115,483       7,937,820     8,326,540  
  Total operating expenses     3,347,939       3,639,828       14,268,206     14,215,627  
                               
Income (loss) from operations     (199,176 )     20,723       1,739,705     2,757,224  
Interest expense, net     93,514       14,561       411,270     25,777  
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes     (292,690 )    
6,162
     
1,328,435
   
2,731,447
 
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes, net     24,067       (7,481,801 )     756,366     (6,999,640 )
Net income (loss)   $ (316,757 )   $ 7,487,963     $ 572,069   $ 9,731,087  
Available to Preferred Stockholders:                              
Series B Preferred Stock liquidation preference increase     -       -       -     (1,914,470 )
Series B Preferred Stock redemption discount, net     -       -       -     6,939,257  
Net income (loss) applicable to Common Stockholders   $ (316,757 )   $ 7,487,963     $ 572,069   $ 14,755,874  
Per share amounts:                              
Net income (loss)   $ (0.00 )   $ 0.08     $ 0.01   $ 0.17  
Net income redeemed from Preferred Stockholders     -       -       -     0.09  
Basic net income (loss) applicable to Common Stockholders   $ (0.00 )   $ 0.08     $ 0.01   $ 0.26  
Diluted net income (loss) applicable to Common Stockholders   $ (0.00 )   $ 0.08     $ 0.01   $ 0.24  
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - Basic     92,267,831       91,573,195       92,153,648     56,213,272  
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - Diluted     93,834,926       95,002,235       94,301,166     60,554,721  
Net income (loss)   $ (316,757 )   $ 7,487,963     $ 572,069   $ 9,731,087  
Other comprehensive income (loss) -                              
  Foreign currency translation     674       (3,769 )     1,390     47,303  
Total comprehensive income (loss)   $ (316,083 )   $ 7,484,194     $ 573,459   $ 9,778,390  
                               
   
TALON INTERNATIONAL, INC.  
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
(AUDITED)  
   
    December 31,  
    2014     2013  
                 
Assets                
Current assets:                
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 2,603,138     $ 3,779,508  
  Accounts receivable, net     3,019,749       3,576,925  
  Inventories, net     506,272       800,240  
  Current deferred income tax assets, net     746,370       392,983  
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets     551,775       580,853  
Total current assets     7,427,304       9,130,509  
                 
Property and equipment, net     584,586       614,592  
Intangible assets, net     4,300,084       4,267,110  
Deferred income tax assets, net     5,374,468       6,050,402  
Other assets     416,035       460,226  
Total assets   $ 18,102,477     $ 20,522,839  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                
Current liabilities:                
  Accounts payable   $ 6,191,954     $ 7,158,938  
  Accrued expenses     2,403,563       2,880,764  
  Revolving credit loan     1,500,000       1,000,000  
  Current portion of term loan payable     1,816,667       1,666,667  
Total current liabilities     11,912,184       12,706,369  
                 
Term loan payable, net of current portion     1,016,667       3,333,333  
Deferred income tax liabilities     13,961       30,388  
Other liabilities     26,077       22,169  
Total liabilities     12,968,889       16,092,259  
                 
Stockholders' Equity:                
  Common Stock, $0.001 par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized; 92,267,831 and 91,342,215 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively     92,268       91,342  
  Additional paid-in capital     64,175,254       64,046,631  
  Accumulated deficit     (59,250,109 )     (59,822,178 )
  Accumulated other comprehensive income     116,175       114,785  
Total stockholders' equity     5,133,588       4,430,580  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 18,102,477     $ 20,522,839  
                 

Contact Information:

Contact:
Talon International, Inc.
Rayna Hernandez
Tel (818) 444-4128